2 plead guilty to burglary in home assault

January 14, 2014

LISBON - Two people charged with forcing their way into a man's home in November 2012 with the purpose of assaulting him pleaded guilty to burglary charges when they appeared in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.

Steven R. J. Wright, 23, Railroad Street, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to burglary amended from aggravated burglary. He faces up to 36 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. The amended charge is a third-degree felony.

Melissa J. Geer, 34, Virginia Avenue, East Liverpool, also pleaded guilty to burglary amended from aggravated burglary. The amended charge is a fourth-degree felony. She faces up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Court documents claim Wright and Geer forced their way into the home of Mason Jones, Ohio Avenue, East Liverpool, and assaulted him. Jones had injuries to his face, head, knee and ribs.

Sentencing for both Wright and Geer is set for March 13.

In other court action, Zachariah T. Gordon, 23, Wood Alley, East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to burglary, a fourth-degree felony. According to court documents, on April 17 Gordon trespassed in the home of a neighbor, Melinda Christy, Wood Alley, East Liverpool, entering through a screen window with the purpose of committing a theft. The charge was amended from a third-degree felony. He faces up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine. Sentencing is set for March 13.

Steven E. Slagle, 24, Lincoln Way, Lisbon, pleaded guilty to three counts of receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony on all counts, for his involvement in three stolen vehicles which were all later recovered within a few blocks of each other in East Liverpool.

Court documents state Slagle and another man were involved in taking a 2002 Chevrolet truck belonging to John Zoellers from the Elks parking lot in East Liverpool on June 15. Additionally he was accused of taking a 1998 Chevrolet truck belonging to James Allmon from a parking lot near the Central Fire Station in East Liverpool on June 16 and a 2001 Pontiac Sunfire belonging to Amber Adkins from the Oasis parking lot on June 17.

Slagle faces up to four and a half years in prison and a $15,000 fine. Sentencing is set for March 13.

Nicole L. Wright, 24, Steubenville, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for heroin found when a vehicle she had been a passenger in was searched. She faces up to 12 months in prison and a $2,500 fine. Sentencing is set for Feb. 28.